Confusion over the origin and intention of two grad missiles fired into southern Israel from the Egyptian Sinai on Friday are threatening to upset the delicate diplomatic relations between Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Phoebe Greenwood, Tel Aviv

3:55PM BST 17 Jun 2012

As the Jewish state anxiously watches its neighbour and former strategic ally convulse through a violent election process, widespread Israeli anxiety over the security implications of an Islamist victory in the polls have been inflamed by local media reports claiming the Muslim Brotherhood was responsible for this weekend's rocket fire.

Haaretz newspaper quoted unnamed Israeli officials on Sunday claiming the missiles were fired by a Bedouin gang acting on behalf of Hamas, who had been ordered to carry out the strike by the Muslim Brotherhood hoping to spark chaos on the eve of the second round of the presidential elections.

A source within Israel's defence ministry said that the anonymous allegation had already caused 'a great deal of damage'. In an effort towards damage limitation, Amos Gilad, a high-ranking Israeli defence official, took to national radio on Sunday morning to discount the Muslim Brotherhood's involvement in the incident.

"It is too early to say who is responsible," Mr Gilad said. "But the Muslim Brotherhood is tied up in historic elections and does not have an operational wing taking part in terror activity." The Israeli military confirmed in a statement on Sunday that they are investigating two grad missile shells, one in Mitspe Ramon and the other in Arava, found when a search was launched after the explosions were heard. While an average of two missiles are fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel every day, none have ever reached this region north of Eilat. It is not clear whether they were intended for a specific target, military or otherwise, but no one was injured in the attack.

While the Muslim Brotherhood has officially held a moderate campaign line on Israel, with the faction's presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi claiming he will not back away from the peace deal with Israel, others within the party have revealed a more hostile position.

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At a rally in early May, Mr Morsi was introduced by Sifwat Hijazi – the event's main speaker – as the leader who would 'liberate Jerusalem' and make it the capital of a new, united Arab world.

Despite Israeli officials' efforts to discredit any connection between the unexplained missiles and the Egyptian electoral hopefuls, Eilat locals voiced their fears this weekend that the incident is a sign of what will come should the Islamist party win the election.